Portable, vertically adjustable, and collapsible stand



H. E. ELLER 2,386,450

PORTABLE, VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND CQLLAPSIBLE STAND Oct. 9, 1945.

zrshee'ts-shee t i F'iled Dec. 31, 1945 Oct. 9, 1945. H. E. ELLER 7 0 PORTABLE, VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE STAND Filed Dec. :51, 1943 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jaw \\\\\\\ uni Patented Oct. 9, 1945 invention relates toin'ew an'd useful-vimmovements in stands 'andfihasiparticular-reference to portable, vertically adjustable; and collapsible stands. I

The invention is primarily concerned with portable andcollapsilole st'ands which are adaptedto: support screens for the reception therenn of light-projected motion and still .pi'ctures'iand for "supporting "maps and pictorial reproductions. of

various kinda na 1 e I The present invention among its -=dbiects -to provide Zriovelffeaiiures cf. construction in a portable 2 screen-- iafiordin g adjustment of" the screen both as to height and-area for the aproper framing "of the "projected picture at various de- Jsirab'le elevations. I,

i it is-a further objecttof the'inventign to pi evide 1, UNITED sures PA T en I mums-immune ADJUSTABLE,

COLLAPSQLBLE STAND: il QHarryi E.Ellergclficagoilllfff U lA p rlicatioh flecember s1, 1943, ser ia11wof51a571 v tonnes. 01.; 1 g'i0 g4- j j slidable v-on ethe post l5; The strap lfi-hastwo --parallel lugs 2 l connecteel layiaspivot pin '22- which extends through aligned, apertures -in ears :23 .of .ahandle'lever- 24- formed at thelupper end-with an enlargementr bearing+ iona pin 25 -,Wl-iieh extends throughralig ned .a pertures I5A and I:8A

respectively ot-thenpost liandstrapJB-end is secured at the ireemen-d, nf aspning 26 secured e 2131 1135 other end to the .insideoi the post 51 To the lower end of the post 45 a collar 21-is secured -andhas: articulated. thereto three links t28 which ,are v.pivbtally. ,secuned tointermediate portions of thedegs 11:. i

It is evident that upon; raising .of thefree end of the handle lever 24 thepinf25:ispressed inwardly thereby permitting theslidable .strappol- ,lar-to be raised untilthe' legs are incollapsed con-- ditiongas indicated-in dotted lines-,in-

,l. I Theipostfi hasta square. cross section louteniay be roundv or, rectangular if, preferred, andmay the icovered at the top with a cap. 29, which ,is apert'nred ifoi: thepassage of an extension rod 311 lbent attrieht. aneles at the upp r end tqwprqv'i e f ol-lowingr s'pecification; particularly pointed out :in the-claims ifo rmi ng a-apart thereonarnitiil-lus- I trated' in. the ."acoompanyi'ng drawings in which:

' Fig.-1L;is:-a"front .view of astandsconstructed 'in'aocorol-ance theinvention;-'v

i2 is a cross sectiontaken-on the1ine4-2--2 ofiE'ig;1;- i i V Fig. 3 is a vertical section ta-ken 'on;;line' 3-*-3 2; H -Fi'gi4 is' a-nrendviewof the stand? 7 :5 isoalfra'gmentary end view of the .in-collapsedposition; 1

- Figlfi is @an; enlarged view :01 the adjustable -comloined carrying handle; "screen eroller v c asing support,. and frictional locking means 7; is 'across sectiontaken on line 1-1 of Fig 6 showing the extension-rod lock; 4

seed 7 Fig .:,8,.is a topplan view of acne-way friction flock; I v. v 4

Fig. ,Q'isa vertical sectiontaken. on line 9 9 of I Fig, 10 is a orizon tal section taken on ,line 1 4 -W nd. n ,i

Fig; 'lliisa horizontal section taken: on- 'lin e "Referring to th' sever-a1 views of the drawings the stand comprises a tubularfipost or standard l5 provided at'its lower -end=with 'a collapsible base such as a'tripod Hi comprising three-legs I which an arm 31. having an indentation 732 {Figl i5); tor a purpose hereinafterdescriloedr I e s e n .33 is? a ted d b wb iii' iupo'n v v 651 Q r;'34 iwhi Qf wenjkmwn a rollen typeset 'Q'Qn i' n, spring actuated, whereby its, normal tendency .is to keep the screen 33wound thereon' withina tubu ar ces neraswh h s oviqeiwith, a longitudinal, slot as for "the. passage or t e screen as and which slot is of, lesswidth "than thediame'ter Lof a tubularmember 3'! to; which the outer end of the s ee i ee u em w niemloer 3l'has airing 38 'seci 1re d v when thescreenli's raisedfits "over 3"! andirests in]theindentation sji l f The"'cap29lias a slot?! (Fig.7) 'forthe passage rst; erm ne formed iiit'e a1 witna rectangular u ol e'nih 4 2 clears the roast b it isnorriiall in lantingiositiontb friction a1-ly"er'ig'a'ge"the iodwitn'one eiigeasshown in "Fig: *6 whereby therio'd i's secured against downward movement loiitpei'mitted' to be'a'dj'usted verticallyaiidupwardly:

For downwardmovemht wear-muons depi essedtotrelaserod 3'!) which drops under gravity. The rodfifl 1's formed-with a horizontal bore 431mg; 1 1) forthe passage of a 15in M headed at both-ends there*beingaspring i5 -inter osed betweenthe rod and one head 46 -of the -pin 44 to cause-the head-to partiallyeenter ah-holeAl the rod 30 and bears at both ends against the post to prevent rattling when the rod is moved vertically.

The screen casing 35 is adjustably secured to the post by a frame generally designated by 49v The vertical strap ends at the forward end do not meet but are welded to a vertical circular disc through the apertured center of the disc 5| and has at the forward end a head 53 bearing against a disc 54 superposed on thedisc 5| and rotatable thereon. The pin 52 has a pair of nuts 55 bearing on a cross-shaped centrally offset resilient washer 55 to hold the discs 5| and 54 under yieldable pressed face engagement with each other.

The disc 54 has a lug 51 which upon rotation is adapted to abut with a stop 58 on the disc 5| to limit the extent to which the disc 54 and the casing 35 may be rotated into horizontal position when the screen is extended in use.

To the disc 54 is secured by countersunk screws 59 a strap 59 which partly encompasses and is welded or otherwise secured to the casing 35 to support the casing on the disc 54.

The casing is closed by end caps 6|. one of which has an opening 62 into which extends a pin 63 projecting downwardly from the horizontally bent arm 3| of the extension rod 30 when the casing is in vertical position.

The handle frame 49, which carries the casing 35, is adjustablysecured on the post 5 by a friction lock generally designatedby 64.

The lock 64 comprises a lever 65 which has an opening 65 to clear the post and isv looselv secured to the upper horizontal portion 5% by integral lugs 66 bent downwardly and under the ,strapportion 50 and the free end of the lever 65 is held in raised or tilted position by a sprin 61 interposed between the lever and the strap portion 50 In this tilted position. one edge 65 of the lever opening -65 frictionally.enga es the post and thus the casing 35 is adjust-ably frictionally secured to the post |5 against downward movementby gravity. 3

When not in use, the stand is in collapsed condition in which the flexible member 33 is rolled upon the roller 34 and the tubular member 31 s positioned to close the slot 36. in the. casing 35 which is vertically aligned with the post l5 and locked to the arm 3| of the extension rod 30 through the pin 63 which extends into the openine 62 of one of the end capsBl of'thecasing-SS.

When in use, the casing 35 is swung into horizontal position in which it is held by the friction between the discs 5| and 54 imposed by the resilient washer 56. The tripod |G supports the post l5 and screen 33 in Vertical position when the screen 33 is unwound and supportedon the arm 3| with the ring 38 securely positioned in the indentation 32 of the arm 3|.

The extension rod 30 is vertically adjusted together with the screen until the desired height of screen is attained and thereafter the lock lever 64 is actuated to release the handle frame 48 and the casing 35 for adjustment to obtain desired area of the screen for the picture to be projected thereon.

Thus various vertical adjustments of the A horizontal pivot pin 52;; extends screen may be attained not only as to height but also as to the area of the screen.

Also a predetermined area of screen may be vertically presented at various elevations by the adjustment of both the extension rod 30 and the casing supporting handle 49.

While the drawings show one embodiment of the invention various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the purview of the invention.

I, therefore, wish to include all modifications, variations and revisions which fairly fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

able

I claim:

1. In a stand, a support for a projection screen casing slidably mounted on a collapsible stand which includes a tubular post having a collapsible base, a vertically adjustable extension rod slidably mounted in said post and normally releasably held against downward movement from its vertically adjusted position therein, and a casing mounted on said post and having a roller therein, said roller having a screen windthereon, said support for said casing comprising a substantially rectangular frame having vertically spaced horizontal portions provided with'vertically aligned apertures through which said post extends, a vertical portion connecting said horizontal portions constituting a handle for carrying the stand when it is in collapsed position, a connection for said casing supported on said frame between said horizontal portions and opposing said handle portion including a pivot pin disposed transversely to said post, said casing being tiltable about said pin into parallel alignment with said 'post when the stand is in collapsed position, and frictional means for releasably securing said casing support in vertically adjusted-position onsaid post.

2. A support fora projection screen casing as definedin claim' 1, said connection comprising a plate securedtospaced vertically disposed portions of said frame, a plate secured to said casing disposed in face contact with said plate on said frame, 'said pivot pin extending through both of said plates and having a through end for a securing nut, and a resilient member mounted on said pin between said nut and said plate on 'said frame adapted to retain said plates in frictional engagement with one another.

3. A support for a projection screen casing as defined in claim 1, said connection comprising a plate secured to spaced vertically disposed portions of said frame, a plate secured to said cassaid frame, said pivot pin extending through both of saidplates and having a through end for a securing nut, and a resilient cross-shaped member mounted on said pin between said nut and said plateon said frame adapted to retain said plates in frictional engagement with one another, said cross-shaped resilient member having a central portion offset relatively to the outer ends of the arm portions of the cross form thereof and said central portion being in engagement with said nut and the ends of said arm portions being in engagement with said plate which is secured to said frame.

4'. In a stand having a tubular post, a casing housing a screen, and a frame adjustable on said post and adapted to tiltably support said casing, a connection between said frame and said casing comprising a plate secured to said frame, a

second plate secured to said casing disposed in face contact with said first named plate and movable relatively to said first named plate, a

bolt pivot pin extending through both of said plates and having a securing nut, and a resilient member mounted on said pin between said nut and said first named plate adapted to retain said plates in frictional engagement with one another.

5. In a stand as defined in claim 4, wherein said resilient member is cross shaped, said cross shaped resilient member having a central portion ofiset relatively to the outer ends of the arm portions of the cross form thereof and said central portion being in engagement with said nut and the ends of said arm portions being in engagement with said plate which is secured to said frame.

6. In astand having a tubular post and a vertically adjustable extension rod slidably mounted in said post, frictional means for releasably locking said rod to said post, said means comprising a pin extending through said extension rod and being headed at both ends thereof, a

coil spring mounted about said pin between one of said pin heads and said rod, and an opening in the wall of said post adapted to receive therein a portion of the spring actuated head to thereby impose a frictional resistance to the movement of said extension rod outwardly of said post.

7. In a tripod stand, a tubular post having an aperture near its lower end, .a collar shiftable on said post and having an aperture therein and a plurality of outstanding lugs, legs pivotally secured to said lugs, a second collar secured to the lower end of said post, links respectively articulated with said second collar and intermediate portions of said legs, a spring pressed pin in said post aperture adapted to extend through said aperture in said shiftable collar when said apertures are aligned, and a lever fulcrumed on said shiftable collar and adapted to force said pin from engagement with said aperture of said shiftable collar to permit adjustment of said shiftable collar relatively to said second collar.

HARRY E. ELLER. 

